Small goals for big change - Week 3

Week 2 update.

SUCCESS!!  I can't believe I went the whole week with only drinking "Real beverages."  Now I just have to keep it up.  I even passed up on Soda when my mom brought it over to the house.  It is still sitting on my counter devilishly calling my name but I did not open it up.  I also got my bookshelf and jewelery box cleaned up.  I plan on moving the table out into the living room but I haven't done that yet.   I also need a longer extension cord that will go behind the shelf.

New decluttering goal.

Moving on through our room I am going to work on the side of the bed near the closet.  Right now there is stuff falling out of the closet and pillows everywhere.  Please don't make fun of the fact that we only have a table tray for a night stand.  We have four kids, I don't buy myself new furniture. 

Week 3  100 days of real food challenge, meat. –

Here is the exact wording from 100 days of real food "All meat consumed this week will be locally raised (within 100-miles of your hometown). Meat consumption will also be limited to 3 – 4 servings this week, and when it is eaten meat will not be presented as the “focal point” of the meal. Instead meat will be treated as a side item or simply used to help flavor a dish."

    OK so I had a grand plan to make this happen this week.  Ray and I were going to go to a farmers market on Saturday where there is a local butcher and we were going to try local meats. I was going to do awesome meal plans so that I knew exactly how to tackle this challenge.   Then Saturday happened.  It was attack of the crazy three year olds.  The fact that I have three in the house makes it way worse.  Every time we tried to get them to change activities or get ready to go all three boys were throwing huge tantrums.  Well eventually we decidede it just was not worth it to leave the house.  That of course lead to more tantrums and the day just got worse from there.  So not only did I not go to get the local meats I also didn't meal plan or grocery shop.  When this happens the week is a mess. 

    So I am trying my best to at least try to not make meat the focal point of our meals.  That is what I am accepting as the challenge.  All week this week our meat at dinner is not going to be the focal point.  At least for me.  Tomorrow my mom is going to this fancy BBQ restaurant and bring dinner home.  If I told my husband he could not eat a gigantic pile of meat (which is what he is planning on doing) I am pretty sure he would laugh at me.    Next week I am going to try again with the well planed menu and buying local meat.  I am even going to try to sneak some vegetarian dinners in there. 

And even though they drive me absolutely nuts I still think they are cute so here are some pictures of the kids from this week.

Nick is the first to get his Big boy bike for Potty training

The three musketeers are getting ready for Halloween

Lilly leaning how to Sword fight with her Uncle

Small goals for big change - Week 2

Update from last week:

I think I will claim success for my week 1 goals.

Week 1 Food challenge: to have two different fruits/veggies each meal.   I did this all week long.  I can't say that my kids ate them at each meal but at least it was there and they tried some new stuff.  I will continue this except for at breakfast.  The kids are terrible breakfast eaters to begin with and when I offered two fruits with their oatmeal/cereal/toast they hardly touched it and I wasted a lot of fruit.  I will continue to offer one type at breakfast and two at each of the other meals. 

Week one clutter goal.  To clean up my bassinet which for months was no longer used for a baby but instead used for a collecting pot of junk and laundry.  Its pretty embarrassing but when I cleaned it out there was a bag of trash from the last time I had started to organize our room that never made it to the trash.  It seems so silly but it happened.  So now here it is all cleaned up.  I haven't seen the top of that dresser since we moved in a year ago.  And just in case you are wondering the pack and play is not going to live there permanently its just there for the weekend while Rays parents are here.  I joked with him about just leaving it up and having it be an even bigger junk collector than the bassinet.  He wasn't amused!

So week 2 here we go.
   As I said in my last post I am taking these from the blog 100 days of real food.  This week is "real beverages"    The only things allowed are coffee, tea, water, and milk (only naturally sweetened with a little honey or 100% pure maple syrup). One cup of juice per week and wine in moderation.  Its an average of one drink per day and red wine is preferred. 
 
   This is going to be a tough one for me.  I am addicted to diet soda.  I also usually put Splenda in my coffee and tea. So this week its all gone.  I am hoping that after a week I won't want it that much but its very hard when I go over to my moms house and there is a ton of soda.  So I think I am going to make myself some ice tea before I go over this week so I am not tempted.  I don't' think my husband is on board completely. He likes his coffee sweet and he likes to have bourbon sometimes.  We'll see, maybe he will just cut back on the soda.  Also the kids get juice a little more frequently than once a week.  I still have to give James is Miralax in juice most mornings so its hard to take that out.  For me though I am going cold turkey! wish me luck.

My decluttering goal is to continue around our bedroom. I am moving into the next corner which has also become a place to throw stuff to keep it away from kids. So its time to clean up.  I am going to have to find a place to store all of our musketeer hats for Halloween.

And just because I think my kids are adorable here are a few pictures from this week.

It's the Lilly Monster, getting ready for Halloween.

Making her Daddy proud: that would be a rib that shes eating.

We are quite a sight when we take walks around the block

Small steps towards big change. Week 1

     I am starting to come out of the new born haze that most moms feel during that first year of a child life.  I'm not sure what causes it but I am pretty sure it has something to do with the inability to sleep for more than 2 or 3 hours at a time.  Now that the cloud of fog is lifting out of my brain I am starting to see all the things in my life that I have let slide for this year.  The two main things are; the way we eat and the clutter around our house.  So I am going to make 2 challenges a week one for the diet and one for decluttering.

   I have been looking on the 100 days of real food blog and I really want to make a change in the way we are eating.  I have been so overwhelmed by taking care of the four kids that I found myself buying tons of prepackaged snacks from Costco just because it was easier.  I don't think I can go cold turkey and cut out all processed food.  I am pretty sure that if I did that the kids heads would explode.  Instead I am going to take her 14 weeks of mini challenges.  I am not going to force anyone else to make the same changes but seeing as though I make the meals for the kids and most dinners I may be able to make some positive change for the whole family.

   So week 1: The first week is to eat a minimum of two different fruits/vegetables at each meal. Her website says organic but when I went to the grocery store today there wasn't a whole lot of options.  I didn't get a chance to plan out meals for all week but I got some easy staples that will go with whatever protein I try to make for dinner.  Today I was successful except for breakfast because I had not been to the store yet.  So hopefully this week goes well and I will incorporate more fruits and vegetables into our everyday diet.

Its just embarrassing

Decluttering week 1:  I am going to take a small portion of my house each week and clean it up.  This is an embarrassing thing to admit but my house is a mess.  I still have boxes that I haven't touched in a year.  We have lived in the house for a year and I still have not finished setting everything up the way I want.  So here is my first goal.  Lilly's bassinet as become a place to stash all things.  Right now it is housing a ton of laundry that needs to be put away.  There is all sorts of stuff behind it and under it and it just needs to go.  My motivation is that I want to try to sell the bassinet so if I clean it all up maybe I can get some money.  Always a good incentive in my opinion. 

So wish me luck hopefully by next Monday I will be a little healthier and a little cleaner.

Starting preschool

   Last week was James' first day at preschool.  I was both excited and nervous.  For almost four years we haven't had much on our schedule during the days.  Now three days a week we have to be at preschool at 9.  It's definitely a change of pace for me.  I was also nervous about how I was going to feel about sending my big guy to school.  I really didn't want to be the mom that was walking out of the room crying as I said my good byes to my son.  I am a crying type of person so it was distinct possibility that there would be some tears on my end.
    On Tuesday the school had an open house.  This was a day designed for parents to come with their children into the classroom and let the kids explore their new space.  Ray and I went with James and we had Lilly with us.  My dad stayed at home with the twins.  We got to the school and James was a little nervous.  It always seems to take him a little bit to warm up to new situations.  We played for awhile in the room.  I had to run to a meeting at the school but Ray stayed and played with James until the end.
    The next day, Wednesday August 29th, was his big day.  I had to go in and wake the boys up so they could have breakfast on time.  It truly does seem a little unfair that its only been about a month that the boys started sleeping past 6 sometimes into the 7 range and now I have to go in and get them up. 

James was not too thrilled about being forced to get up

    Everybody had some oatmeal for breakfast and got dressed and ready to go.  My dad came with us in the car so that I only had to get out with James instead of bringing the whole crew with me.  We had some time before we left to take a few pictures.

He held onto this sign until we got to school

I love his smile.

Nick wanted to go to school too so he got his backpack on and took pictures with James

     James did OK when we got to the class.  He did grab onto my leg and then try to run out of the class.  I walked him over to his teacher.  I asked if it was easiest if I just go.  She said "yes, say a quick goodbye and leave." 
    So that's what I did.  I pulled him off my leg and squatted down next to him.  I said "Mommy loves you and I will be back soon.  Have a great day at school."  His teacher came and picked him up so he wouldn't run after me and I walked out of the room.  I did feel some tears coming on but I managed to choke them back and keep my composure. 
   When I came back to pick him up he barely noticed I was in the back of the room.  He was running around with two other boys and having a great time.  It made me feel a lot better.  I knew that he would be fine once I left (he does the same thing at church) but it was good to see him having some fun.  He doesn't talk much about what he did but he is not much of a talker.  He mostly says that he played, read books and made friends.  He also told me his teacher is nice to him.  That sets my mind at ease a bit.

He is in the purple room!

   Now here we go.  We survived week one! ready to take on week two.

Pismo Beach, Returning after almost 20 years

    As a child I went to Pismo Beach every summer with my grandparents.  They would pack up us grand kids and take us for a week.  We usually went in their motor home and stayed at Pismo Coast Village.    I have some great memories of that beach although I was very young.  We would do crafts, hunt for sand dollars, feed the ducks, swim, and I even took my training wheels off of my bike there.  I can't remember the last year we went but I was probably about ten.  That would mean it would be about twenty years since I had been there.
    This time the trip would be a little different than I was used to as a child.  A year ago my in laws thought it would be a fun idea to go to Pismo and rent a beach house.  I was thrilled.  It had been so long and I was so young I had trouble remembering what the little town looked like.  So it was decided.  We would spend a week in Pismo with my parents, my In-Laws and our good friends the Normans who also have two kids.

The whole crew in front of the beach house

     I don't know whether its my personality or whether most moms feel this way but trips with my four kids are always a lot of work.  Getting the six of us out of the house with everything we would need for a week is no easy feat but I managed.  After hours of packing and loading the car we were set to go on Friday afternoon.
     I have to admit the first night we got there was pretty emotional for me.  I am hoping I hid it well.  My grandparents were very important people to me and both have passed away.  After checking out the house we decided to walk down to the beach to let the kids play around.  As soon as I got close to the beach the smell hit me.  It was most definitely the Pismo beach smell.  To me its not the same as other beaches.  This was Pismo.  I don't know if its the plants that grow in the area or the type of sand but it was a clear memory as soon as I walked down to the beach.   The sand is fine and softer than any other beach I have been to.  We had a beautiful sunset and all I could think of was how much I missed my grandparents and how I felt like they were watching over me.  This trip I was going to get to share all my childhood experiences with my kids and I was excited.

Lilly and I enjoying the beautiful sunset.

     We of course spent a lot of time on the beach.  It took my boys a little bit of time to warm up to the waves but by the last day they were running in and out of the water and getting pretty brave.   Lilly spent most of the time at the beach being held because she loves to eat sand, rocks, sticks, seaweed and pretty much whatever she can get her hands on.  We tried several of the beaches near by like Avila beach and Grover beach.  We visited the sand dunes and of course we searched for sea shells.

Baby Lilly at the San Dunes

My boys running from the waves

Where is James' body, Grandma and Papa covered him completely.

Learning how to listen for the ocean in a conch shell

    You have to have a bit of know how and some luck to get the best sea shells.  And we were always on the look out for the elusive whole sand dollar.  The best time to go is early in the morning as the tide is going out.  If it is already low tide you will be too late and the darn birds will have beat you to the best shells.  If you walk along the waters edge as the waves go in and out you can see imperfections in the sand where shells and rocks are buried.  This is your best chance at finding whole sand dollars. But beware you will get wet and its awfully cold in the mornings.  Our friends gave me the nick name the Sand dollar whisperer since I had the insider scoop from my grandma.

On the hunt for the best shells at 6 in the morning.  It takes dedication.

We found lots of whole sand dollars.

    We also had some time to go into San Luis Obispo.  We stopped by the Mission.   Our friends daughter had studied them in school this year so she was excited to see it. Having been a fourth grade teacher for years my dad has an affinity for the missions as well so it was a fun stop for everyone.  Because a bunch of three year olds can not  spend a ton of time in a mission museum we decided to take them to The San Luis Obispo Children's Museum that was a block away.  I am so jealous that this place isn't closer to us.  The kids had such a great time.  It had science centesr, imaginative play, dresses ups.  You know its a good place when it entertains a 9 month old, three year olds, and 8 and 10 year olds too.   We also stopped at Bubble gum alley.  Good thing I am not a germ-a-phobe, otherwise this would have been a terrible disaster.

Two mamas and our kiddos at the Mission

Nick dressing up as an Astronaut

Playing in the fire truck.

Bubble gum Alley, just a little disgusting.

    The kids had some wooden put together art projects that my dad was super excited about.  They did a car project and a bird house.  Each one took some parent help but the kids had a great time.  I now have to find a spot for three bird houses in our trees.

Racing their cars

building bird house

      We walked around the town a few times.  There are a lot of shops and restaurants. We of course had to stop by The Scoop.  As a child we would walk into town and get bright blue bubble gum ice cream.  At this ice cream shop they give you a little cup so you can spit your gum into it and eat it when your done.  I know its completely disgusting but it is super fun.  When we went  all the kids and some of the adventurous grown ups got bubble gum ice cream.  Even some of the adults choose to partake in the odd experience of frozen gum balls in ice cream.
    We also walked out onto the pier.  I am such a worrying mother.  All I could think of was what would happen if one of my hooligan little boys fell in the water.  Several times I had to yell at their father for teasing me and holding them up over the edge.  In my head I was trying to figure out how I was going to find someone to hold Lilly quickly and jump off the pier to save my poor babies.  I know, like I said, I am a worrying mother.

Out around town

Bubble gum ice cream!

The whole group out on the pier.

     We did get to spend one morning without kids.  The four grandparents offered to watch all the kiddos while we had a few hours with our friends.  Ray and I got massages at the Madonna Inn as part of my birthday present and then we had lunch with The Normans at The Apple Farm.  I think its the first meal in a long time where I sat through the entire thing uninterrupted.
   Of course there was the evening fun.  The Olympics were going on so each night we got a few drinks and sat back and relaxed.  (I couldn't enjoy as much alcohol as all the other adults since I still have to feed Lilly but one drink is OK)  We watched the Olympic coverage and tried to stay awake for the best parts but some nights I did not make it.  I know that my parents always had drinks in the evening on camping trips.  Now I understand why.  Vacation with kids is tough and exhausting.  I love making memories with my kids and had a great time but boy was I beat when I got home.

Relaxing our last night at the beach house.

The Twin's Disneyland Birthday party

   I love throwing parties for the kids birthdays.  I know that they always have a great time and I think I will make some great memories for them growing up.  So this year I was trying to come up with a theme for Joe and Nick.  They would be celebrating their third birthday.  We tried to think of things that they really like and the best I could come up with was Disneyland.  They are obsessed with Disneyland.  They talk all the time about when we will go next and what we will go on.  They even pretend to go to Disneyland.  They take one of our toy buckets and run through the house telling me which ride they are on.  So it was decided.  Disneyland birthday party.  Here is what we came up with and how we celebrated.

First thing is the attire.  I found a great set of instructions on how to make mickey mouse tie dyed shirts. I made 10 shirts total.  One for each kid, one for Ray and I and each Grandparent got their own shirt for the party.  I think they turned out pretty good.  I want to wear them to Disneyland one day so I can get a castle picture in our cool shirts.  Ray is a little reluctant.  He just said "I don't think tie dye is that popular any more."  Maybe I will allow him to bring a shirt to change into as long as he will be in one picture.

Family picture right before the party started.

     I got some simple Mickey mouse decorations from party city.  Although I had tons of fun DIY crafts for Disney I just didn't have the time.  I will just use some of our ideas and craft projects with the kids later.  The one thing I did make was Disney quote print outs.  I found quotes from different movies and printed them out with a picture from the movie.  I taped them up all around my moms house.  A lot of people came up to me and said they were great.   I didn't take many pictures of just the decorations but in this picture you can see a pooh bear quote and a little bit of our Mickey banner.  Not to mention it's a great picture of Lilly with her Grammy and Great Grammy.

Lilly got a new princess chair 

   I decided to have most of our entertainment outside.  With as many kids as we were expecting it would be difficult to keep them cooped up inside.  So we turned my parents backyard into a bunch of Disney inspired activities.  My parents have a small pool and a play structure already.  So we made signs for Ariel's undersea adventure.  We put some Ariel bath toys for the kids to swim with.  Mostly these got thrown out for more play space and the sign got destroyed in some water gun fights but the thought was there.

Pool Set up before the party

Squirt gun battle between swimmer and grown ups

The play structure we named Tarzan's Tree house.  Underneath the play structure is a sandbox which we turned into a Pirates of the Caribbean treasure dig.  Each kid got to take a loot bag and find the buried treasure, gold coins and plastic rings.  I set up a Finding Nemo's bubble chest filled with bubble solution and a bunch of bubble wands.

Nemos bubble chest

Pirate Treasure Dig

We had a Jedi Training academy.  Each kid could pick a home made pool noodle light saber and a cape (made by my mom) and learn to fight the dark side.

Jedi Training Academy

Ray made Pool Noodle Light sabers for each kid

Home made capes in a variety of colors for each kid.

 Luckily my husband and a few other parents were willing to play light saber fights with the kids.  I didn't get a picture of it but my husband said he tripped on his Jedi robe and fell on his back side.  Then was attacked by about 15 pool noodle wielding kids. Oh how I wished I was out there for that moment.

Light sabers = fun for everyone even the grown ups

Father  and Son Jedi Training

We had a toontown bowling, a toy story bean bag toss and a splash mountain boat races.  Our boat races were in rain gutters and the kids used squirt guns to power their boats and race.

Toy Story Bean Bag Toss

Toontown Bowling

Rain gutter boat races

Marry Poppins also made a guest appearance for a few minutes.  She couldn't stay long because it was really hot and her coat is ridiculously hot.  But the kids did enjoy her coming around for a bit.  She even let them play with her umbrella for a bit.

Grandma dressed up like Mary Poppins to Surprise the boys

    We had a bunch of food for everyone.  Chips dips, and sandwiches.  But of course the favorite is the desert.  I made a cake that I tried to make look like Sleeping Beauty's castle.  Not a easy feat for an amateur cake maker.

Sleeping Beauty's Castle cake

 I also tried to make some fun Disneyland treats.  We had chocolate covered bananas, mickey mouse rice treats and some chocolate covered mickey pops.

Chocolate Disneyland treats

After the kids had played around for a while it was time to cut into the cake.  As I was bring the cake around Nick kept saying "That's my cake, that's my birthday cake."  I know they were very excited to have a cake that looked like a castle.   Nick and Joe were so surprised to have people singing to them.  They just stood there grinning.  They loved blowing out the candles, which they have been talking about for weeks.  I think everyone enjoyed the desserts.  Its always a little nerve wrecking when I make something like that.  I always hope it comes out OK.

Blowing out the candles

Singing happy birthday

Joe loves his mama's cake!

Lilly says, "Ssshhhh. Don't tell mom Uncle David Gave me Cake."

 Last but not least the boys got to open their presents.  It is amazing how much they can change in a year.  This year they really understood presents and saying thank you.  It makes a mom so proud to see that.

Joe and Nick getting ready for presents

Nick digging into one of his presents

At the end of the party each guest got to take home their pirate treasure bag, their pool noodle light saber, Jedi cape and a little party bag.

Mickey gift bags

All in all I call it a successful party.  The boys had a great day.  I think all of the guests had a god time.  I watched all the kids having a great time swimming and playing.  I think all of the food was great.  The most tell tale sign that it was a successful toddler birthday party, I was exhausted!!!  Well worth it though to see my kids enjoy their day.  Time to start planning James and Lilly's party now...